coming of age - Stories

A step-by-step course to teach yourself the art of Writing Poetry

It’s the early 1950’s in Australia and Ryan Seaton has a dark secret. At twelve years old he’s discovered he’s a homosexual and in that decade being gay could be fatal. Added to that, his mother uses emotional blackmail, making his home-life miserable. Then his best mate confides he’s also gay, but the combined hostility of society, religion and the law, ensures that any relief is short-lived. Tragedy follows.

The decade known as the 1950’s was word-wide, the worst time to be gay, but out of the depths of despair a new period of enlightenment began. This is the story of some young souls living through and surmounting that awful decade.

This is part 4 of “Catering With Benefits” - in the Appetites series.

Our favourite characters are living in the time of the pandemic, but don’t let that stop them from getting on with life.

The Flinders Street complex housing Poppy’s, Deans’s Bar, Divas and Dare to Bare, is closed due to the statewide lockdown.

On the other side of town the younger generation are coming of age and stepping out to discover what life has to offer.

This story begins with Randy crying over TJ's grave. What happens to the beautiful boy, TJ, he meets the first day of school? You will have to read the story until its dramatic ending to find the answer. Did T.J. break his promise to Randy?

Logan knows he’s gay and is attracted to the new kid in school, Seth, but he isn’t certain if Seth is gay. Since he is unsure how to proceed, Logan asks his father for advice. His dad responds by sharing his philosophy – you pass this way but once. What does this mean and will it help Logan solve his problem? The story follows them from 7th to 9th grades.

Young Martin has been staring at the beautiful boy who's high school locker is located just across the hall from his own. But today, with a note that he wrote and a shaky moment of confidence, Martin has decided to let the boy know how he feels.

A district wrestling camp opportunity arises, and although he is the youngest participant, Benji makes the most of it.

A teenager suddenly finds out he is gay and falls for the hunky playboy star quarterback, of all people. The quarterback seems interested with him, or is he just fooling around?

A young boys' misadventure leads to the creation of a unique friendship between man and beast that lasts a life time.

The past comes to life as two boys, linked through their 22nd century implants, dream of a brutal gay bashing. But is the past really the past, or was it the future that was just a dream? If find their way back, might they then save what little is left of gay culture? (2008 Winter Anthology - It's Just a Game, Right?)